It’s a relatively simple concept: finding a quiet, cosy place for the kids to read and play, but makes a world of difference to any household with small children.

Moving to a bigger, more expensive property with more room to spare isn’t always possible - least of all in today’s market, with house prices set to climb over the next few years. But for those of you lucky enough to own an attic, there’s plenty of affordable ways to expand and create a space where the children can play.

We’ve gathered several inspirations to show you how it’s done:

one

This extraordinary conversion makes for an adorable playroom, complete with tiny table and chairs for colouring-in and a big cosy armchair for story time. A lot of thought has been put into something as simple as ‘finding a place for the kids to play’, and the result is stunning. Clean, contemporary and super stylish, we can imagine this loft space still being put to good use long after the kids have grown up.

two

Everything about this child’s activity room might appear understated, but it all comes together wonderfully. The window seat is a particularly nice touch that kids will appreciate, especially when playing indoors on a rainy afternoon. There’s also plenty of potential for when the kids grow up too, as we can easily see this space being used as a sewing room or something of the like. Whatever it is that floats your boat.

three

An effective loft conversion should always reflect the needs of whoever uses it most, and this living space is a great example of how to meet those needs perfectly. With an area for kids to sit and watch television, quietly keeping themselves occupied, we suspect this conversion is probably meeting the needs of the parents more than anybody - but it’s still a fabulous example of just how effectively an unused loft space can be utilised.